GRINDERS & GAMBLES: Week 9

Grinders and Gambles is duct tape for teams in need of help. This list is for deeper leagues or for those in shallower leagues who are picking up players in free agency after waivers have run.

Grinders are the guys that will get you some points. They may not have an upside but they will grind out 5-15 depending on your scoring.

Gambles can get you a goose egg but also have tremendous upside.

Another week is in the books and we are starting to get a better feel for this year’s football landscape.

GRINDERS

Baker Mayfield, Cleveland – So hear anything interesting happening in Cleveland this week? Depending on who is grabbing the reins, Mayfield should be able to put up a nice grinder stat line for you for the next two weeks and should be a legit spot start from a needy team.

Jalen Richard, Oakland – Richard has been fantastic for PPR owners and he should only see his points increase with Lynch gone.

Doug Martin, Oakland – Running back is crazy thin and Martin could be a wash, but he has the potential to turn into a grinder for standard leagues with Lynch down.

Adam Humphries, Tampa – Humphries is still grinding. He is a nice grab if you need a steady receiver in deeper leagues. Keep in mind this team could be rotating quarterbacks as both have a tendency to make really nice throws…to the other team’s safeties.

Brandon LaFell, Oakland – This late in the season, injury and upheaval are the two catalysts for fantasy opportunities. Teams like Oakland, Cleveland, and Arizona have plenty of players on the wire who may be able to help teams out as things shift. LaFell took Cooper’s spot this week and put up a grinder level PPR score. LaFell was always good for 5-15 points a week in Cincy and unless you are a Martavis Bryant truther, it is hard to deny he has the potential for the same sort of grinding in the still smoldering ashes of the Oakland Raiders 2018 season. He is also available in almost every redraft league and most dynasty leagues.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay – He has been a PPR performer for the last few weeks. He has a tough match up against New England coming up and healthy teammates might cut into his snaps. He is worth a grab if you are hurting.

Jack Doyle, Indianapolis – Doyle has been dropped from many a redraft team due to his injury status; he showed up big this week. Fortunately he has a bye this week which means he might be a cheaper buy as teams look for fill-ins for Ertz and Engram. Pick him up now if you have the room.

Chris Herndon, New York Jets – Herndon has been putting up a steady stat line for PPR and faces my poor Dolphins defense that got torched by Houston this week.

About Lisa London

I suffer from an undying obsession with fantasy football. Former Lee Evans owner, I am not proud. Admitting you have a problem is the first step, I would get to the second one but I have lineups to set. Follow me on Twitter @leedoglaw